ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

Echocast recently found a musical home at Smart Studios (Madison, WI), the home of prolific rock producer Butch Vig (Garbage, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins). The band's debut album, "Where the Future Ends" on XS Records is a landmark transition and fresh start for the members of the hard-rocking, heavy-touring quartet. The record was produced by the Magical Mr. Colsen ( Paw, HBO's Reverb).

For Echocast's songwriting nucleus of brothers David Mast (vocals) and Adam Redding (guitar), having a fully loaded band is a strange but refreshing feeling. Starting with their first musical project, a band called Seven, which was based in Tennessee, the brothers have had a constantly changing bass and drum lineup. For their second album ("Supernova," Freedom Records), they were known as Redline, and Redding was even forced to play the bass. Luckily, after "Supernova's" release in 2000, Sean Clark (bass) and Jaren Johnston (drums) became permanent members of the band. The effects were immeasurable.

Both huge Radiohead fans, the rhythm team of Johnston and Clark added musical depth and energy that the band had never experienced before. With drumming influences including funk, jam, and even country, Johnston soon proved that he could rock as hard as the rest of the band, while using his varied influences to help push the music in new directions. And Clark, formerly a lead guitarist for the band Valid, brought a chord-player's style to Echocast's bass sound that went far beyond merely keeping pace with the kick drum.

Finally feeling complete, the band set out on a tour that would take them through 31 states and Canada supporting "Supernova." They played every night possible. The tour was successful and resulted in seven singles hitting rock charts and college radio. The band also appeared twice on network television. The most exciting part for the band, however, was seeing the enthusiasm of the fans, people mouthing the words to a song while David sang, or approaching the band after a show to say how a much a song meant to them.

"Where The Future Ends" marks a transition for members of the group who started playing for fun. Aside from the new name and artist-friendly new label, the band has adopted a confident new attitude. They are fueled by a source as powerful as the radioactive element in their name and ready to explode on the national scene. Echocast is ripping up the road to success.

For those who prefer their rock with a lot of CRUNCH on top, Echocast delivers. These songs contain layers of guitar goodness, punchy rhythmic twists and turns, and soaring vocals. With this album, Echocast blazes a new path to the FUTURE OF ROCK.

Track #1 has a strong hook and a great chord progression
Track #2 has a great riff and an almost R&B feel to the vocal
Track #3 has a huge bridge with layered harmonies and kind of a mathy riff in the chorus
Track #4 sounds like Radiohead (guitarwise) in the verse, Alien Ant Farm in the Chorus, and Helmet in the Bridge
Track #5 sounds influenced by midwest bands like Shiner and Built to Spill
Track #6 has an almost Kent-like vibe with a cool drum loop and acoustic guitar

I'm a big fan of Incubus and this stuff is very much in the same territory. Fueled by aggressive drums and guitar, sweetened by melodious singing and all the while displaying lots of musical chops, this ones a real keeper.